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this post was submitted on 27 Apr 2026
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UK Politics
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I wonder if Polanski could be really radical and just scrap targets? You combat neo-liberalism by changing the conversation not by joining in.
I've been in organisations that worked that way. I don't recommend it. The reality is that you either have explicit targets or they're implicit. But as soon as you ask "how are we doing?" it's good to have some facts you can use to find out. Otherwise, whoever shouts the loudest gets their way.
There can be alternatives to this neoliberal realism. As I've already said, many societies have thrived without targets. Part of the enslavement is that they convince us that there's no other option: everything reduced to finances, numbers, metrics. Neverending.
Good point let's just vibe the code the economy. You know this can actually starve people, yeah?
And you know that GDP wasn't used before the 1930s? And that Simon Kuznets, the economist who developed it, warned against using it - especially due to its impact on welfare. We really don't need the targets-driven neoliberalism. There are already millions of children hungry every day in the UK, yeah?
I never said GDP should be the target, you said scrap all targets. I don't believe that anyone who's ever attempted anything seriously difficult could hold that position in earnest, You need some kind of numeric feedback or you're cooked.
Kate Raworth uses the term "boundaries"; I'd probably use "thresholds". Targets are insidious and something to avoid. Societies without targets have existed and thrived. So - yes - let's ditch all neoliberal targets!
Yeah cool you can rename it if you want, whatever.
You too. Best wishes in keep setting yourself those daily targets. The acceleration will happen!